Webb's Auctions Acquires Bowerbank Ninow

Webb’s, New Zealand’s longest running multi-departmental auction house, acquires ownership of Auckland-based gallery and auction house Bowerbank Ninow

(1 April 2019, New Zealand) Webb’s, the longest running multi-departmental auction house in New Zealand, specialising in art, decorative arts, jewellery, wine, collectable cars & single-vendor collections, has today announced the acquisition of Auckland-based art gallery and auction house Bowerbank Ninow.

Bowerbank Ninow will continue its regular operations, offering a robust schedule of exhibitions and auctions showcasing contemporary and modern art. However, the gallery and auction house will now be under the management of Webb’s and its owners Bruce Qin and Ewen Mackenzie-Bowie.

Director of Webb’s Ewen Mackenzie-Bowie said, “Bruce and I are delighted to acquire a business that has done much to serve new collectors, a market Webb’s has already identified as crucial. Charles and Simon both have a history at Webb’s and we welcome them home with confidence that they will bring additional enthusiasm and passion to our enterprise. 2019 has already seen record sales of jewellery and wine and over $1 million in collectors’ cars. It’s been a great start to the year.”

Bowerbank Ninow was founded by Simon Bowerbank and Charles Ninow in 2015. They met while both employees of Webb’s, and subsequently left to pursue their shared vision of a new kind of art business that would combine an exhibition and auction program under one roof. Charles is one of the country’s foremost art auctioneers, having worked in this capacity at Webb’s for four years before his time as a Director of Bowerbank Ninow. Simon brings over a decade of expert knowledge of the art market to his new role, from his extensive background in the curation and organisation of exhibitions, development of artists’ careers and production of publications.

Over the past five years, Charles and Simon have grown Bowerbank Ninow into a successful hybrid of art gallery and auction house, putting out four auctions, attending three art fairs and mounting a full-time gallery program over the course of 2018. Being acquired by Webb’s will allow the business new opportunities to grow and bring Charles and Simon's vision to an even wider audience. As a part of the changes taking place, Bowerbank Ninow will be moving to exciting new premises with substantially increased exhibition space, amongst other improvements and advantages.

Bowerbank Ninow’s success has been predicated on applying a curator’s sensibility to both exhibitions and auctions, making the gallery highly regarded amongst artists, collectors and institutions. Bowerbank Ninow has been an innovative presence in the New Zealand art industry over the past five years, and will continue on the same path under its new management.

The acquisition of Bowerbank Ninow will see Webb’s diversify their current auction business by offering a full-time gallery program of exhibitions by leading New Zealand and international artists under the Bowerbank Ninow name. Simon Bowerbank will be overseeing Webb’s and Bowerbank Ninow’s exhibition program as a continuation of his current role as gallery Director, while Charles will be taking a position as the Head of Art at Webb’s. As a part of the changes taking place, Bowerbank Ninow will be moving to exciting new premises with substantially increased exhibition space, amongst other improvements and advantages.

The first auctions to take place at Bowerbank Ninow under Webb’s management will be a collection of photos of the 1981 Springbok tour and a general photography auction. Both will go under the hammer on 3rd April, 2019, beginning at 6:30pm at the existing Bowerbank Ninow premises at 312 Karangahape Rd.

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